Movie Review: The Happening

The Incredible Hulk wasn’t the only movie that I saw last Thursday. I also saw M. Night Shyamalan’s new film The Happening.
I’ve mentioned before my love for M. Night movies; so there is no need to go into that again.
The Happening was an interesting film. Like most Shyamalan’s movies it didn’t focus on the extraordinary circumstances taking place, but how a small group of real people reacted to them. Unlike most Shyamalan movies though; there was no surprise ending.
Instead, The Happening offered a sort of kaleidoscope-style of storytelling that brought the viewer into all sorts of scenarios that could take place in such a disaster, some that didn’t seem to fit in with the greater themes of the movie- I’ll get to that later.
But, before I do, what was this disaster anyways? Well, it’s a strange one: basically some sort of toxin is released into the air from within parks inside of large cities in the North Eastern United States. This toxin cause’s people to instantly become disoriented and mere moments later do whatever they can to…kill themselves (?!). The release of toxins eventually begin happening all over the NE regardless of the cities’ population. Although later in the film it is deducted by the protagonists that the probability of the toxin being released is directly related to the number of people within proximity to each other- that number is getting smaller and smaller as the toxin takes out larger groups of people.
The movie never gives an absolute reason for this disaster, but three reasons are suggested: 1] That this is a terrorist attack brought on by Islamic Extremists (although that idea is revealed as a preposterous one and is taken lightly by Shyamalan as a joke of sorts); 2] That this was caused accidentally by the US Government while they were doing some nerve gas protection experiments (which is given some credit as a valid possibility all the way up to the film’ closing scene); and 3] That this event is happening because our environment (particularly the plant life) is feeling threatened by the growing population of humanity and our disregard for the natural balance of nature, so the plants release an unknown toxin as a last resort defense to eradicate humanity from the planet (which is given the most credibility throughout the film).
All three of these possibilities prey on three of the US public’s biggest contemporary fears: Our fear of terrorism; our lack of trust towards our government; and our fear of pollution and resulting radical climate change.
Just the premise for this movie would have made it a disaster; but M. Night Shyamalan’s witty and insightful writing, his creative directing and production, the film’s epic musical score, it’s relevant and frightening themes, and especially its talented cast of actors make this film float- although it doesn’t come close to living up to Signs, The Village, or even The Lady in the Water.
Apparently Shyamalan wrote this script specifically for his personal choice of the lead actor: Mark Wahlberg, who plays Science Teacher Elliot Moore. Wahlberg is a great actor and can practically make any film- The Happening was no exception. Zooey Deschannel was intriguing in this film as Wahlberg’s distant wife Alma; and John Leguizamo is pleasantly quirky and paranoid as Wahlberg’s best friend and Math Teacher Julian. Ashlyn Sanchez, who played Leguizamo’s daughter was a little inexperienced and unbelievable, but she didn’t ruin the film or any scenes.
One interesting thing about this Night film is that it is his first that obtained an R-rating. This was a gimmick as most of the films TV adds touted it as such. There were really only two scenes that gave this film an R-rating: one in which two lions rip off a man’s arms; and another in which a man is run over by a large riding lawn mower; not to mention some gratuities blood added to some scenes that just didn’t need it. This film would have been just as good if not better if those scenes were left out and would have naturally attracted a much larger audience (and profit) if it would have stuck with a more user-friendly PG-13 rating.
The film deals with many relevant themes: fear, terrorism, anxiety, environmentalism, big-government, the media, communication, commercialism, global warming, parenting, and most predominantly love, loyalty, and trust within marriage.
One bizarre scene that occupied the majority of the film’s end involved Wahlberg, Deschannel, and Sanchez’s characters didn’t seem to gel with the film’s storyline or greater themes. Without giving two much away, Wahlberg and crew seek refuge at a very rural house that is occupied by a scary old widow. The widow has wants no contact with the outside world and doesn’t want to know what has caused the film’s protagonists to seek refuge at her house. Shyamalan tries almost too hard to fit in all sorts of horror genre into the scenes involving this woman and her secluded abode, but it doesn’t make sense, flow with the film, or pay off in the end; although it does set up an interesting final scene where some of Wahlberg and Deschannel marriage problems are solved.
I do have to say that this movie did have one of the best lines I have heard in a while. You’ll have to go see the film to find out what context it comes in, but the line came from Leguizamo’s character as he was speaking to Deschannel. It was, “Don’t you take my daughter’s hand unless you mean it!” I think I’ll use that line when my daughter Kylie starts dating.
In the end this movie is get, but a bit disappointing as it offers no solution to the film’s central crisis; only questions and the continuation of disaster before the final credits roll. Bottom line: 3 out of 5 stars from me (thanks to the cast, some good dialogue, and some original ideas).